Gold-saving riffle.



G. ERICKSON. Y

GOLD SAVING RIFPLB. Y

AYPLIOATION FILED JUNE 19, 1909.

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i HM/2% l 'JIHIHHIIIUIIII u.IIIIHHIHHIHIIIHI UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

CARL ERICKSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

GOLD-SAVING RIFFLE.

To all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL ERICKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gold-Saving Riftles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved gold saving riiile for use in boxes or flumes in mining operations and consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings z-Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a section of a box or flume provided with a section of a rifile constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, a portion of the screen being removed to disclose the riftle. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of one of the side bars of the screen supporting frame.

The flume or box 1 may be of any suitable size and construction and may be made in separable sections if preferable, or in a continuous piece as ma be desired. One .section of the box or ume is here shown for the purposes of this speciiication. In the bottom of the box or Hume is my improved riille 2 which is ordinarily made of a wooden board of suitable dimensions, but may be made of any other suitable material and is provided with a series of pockets 3 which are bores extending through the rile board or body from its upper to its lower side and inclining rearwardly as shown. These bores or pockets are in staggered relation and the bottoms thereoare formed by the bottom ot the box or flume, their upper sides being open. In practice, the riiiles are made in sections of suitable length, which sections are removable Jfrom the box or lume at will.

On the rii'le, in accordance with my invention, is placed a frame 4 which is here shown as comprising a pair of side bars 5 and cross bars 6 which connect the side bars together and are rabbitted in the upper sides of the side bars at the ends of the latter, one of the rebates for the reception of the ends of the cross bars being indicated at 7 in Fig. 4. The said side bars are beveled on their inner' sides so that their opposing surfaces diverge downwardly and the said side bars of the frame present narrow lower edges 8 which bear upon the riftle and hence Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A110. 16, 1910.

Application filed .Tune 19, 1909. Serial No. 503,138.

obstruct the latter to the minimum extent and expose all of the pockets or openings in the riitle. On the iframe 4 is a screen 9 which prevents large particles from passing through and getting upon the rime, the said screen being spaced from and above the riie by the frame 4. The screen comprises longitudinal bars l() and spacers 11 which dispose them` at suitable regular distances apart. The frame, as well as the riiiies and the screens are preferably made in separable sections and each section of the screen 1s hinged at its upper end to the upper end of the frame section on which it rests as at 12. Hooks 13 and screw eyes 14 are here shown to secure they lower end of the screen on the frame or any other suitable securing means may be .employed within the scope of my invention. It will be understood that the screen being thus hinged on the frame may be readily opened therefrom and that the screen and frame may be removed from above the rifile to permit the latter to be readily taken out of the box or trough.

In practice, the box or trough together with the riile, :trame and screen are inclined somewhat as indicated in Fig. 1 to cause the water to iow .downwardly through the box or trough and over the screen and riiile. @.wing to the downward inclination of the holes or pockets of the ritile, the said holes or pockets enable the lighter worthless particles to readily pass over the same while they serve eiiiciently for the reception and retention of the heavier gold particles which settle in the rifiie openings or pockets in the usual well known manner, the current of water flowing over the riiile serving to wash away the worthless particles of earth and rock and permitting the heavier gold particles -to accumulate in the openings or pockets of the riiile. By removing the riie from the bottom of the box or trough, the gold may be readily recovered as will be understood, since the pockets or openings in the rifle become bottomless as soon as the ritiie is raised and hence the contents thereof drop in the bottom of the trough or box. The screen being hinged is movable readily from above the ritilc to permit access thereto.

What is claimed is The herein described gold saving appara tus comprising an inclined trough, a rifl'le on the bottom thereof comprising a body having rearwardly inclined openings extending roni its upper to its lower side, the

' lower cross bars, said side bars presenting the bottom of the boX or trough, a frame in I prising longitudinally disposed bars and the trough and removable therefrom, said spacers disposing them at suitable regular frame embodying side bars and upper and bottoms of saidlopenings being formed by" the upper Cross bar of the frame and com screen to the lower cross bar of the frame. downwardly diverging opposing surfaces In testimony whereof I aflix my signature and formed with narrowed lower edges in presence of two witnesses.

which bear directly on the sides of the riiHe CARL ERICKSON. and expose the openings therein, and a Witnesses: screen on said frame and spaced thereby JULIUS CALMANN,

above the rifile, said screen being hinged to HENRY LoviiRioH.

distances apart, and means for securing said 15 

